When we started our firm in 2011, our vision of putting our clients’ interests at the center of our work came naturally. But as time went on and our business evolved, we quickly realized we needed support to better serve our clients. That’s why, in 2012, we created our Client 1st Financial Board of Directors to guide and chart our path to success.
Composed of independent businesspeople throughout the Lehigh Valley community, our board of directors serves as a sounding board for us. They evaluate our practice from a bird's-eye view and assess our financials and operations from an unbiased perspective, providing us with valuable information to run our businesses successfully.
The idea came into fruition after President and CEO Michael Fischer attended a consulting class. It emphasized the importance of running a practice with clear, organized goals and opened Michael’s eyes not only to the work that needed to be done but also to the path he needed to follow. While Michael had exciting ideas for the future of Client 1st, his board of directors refocused his vision, putting clear, tangible steps into practice to achieve those goals. While some financial advisors refer to their board of directors as an “advisory board,” Michael treats his board differently by compensating them for their time.
What makes this board different is its unique addition to our firm. It’s best practice to have a board of directors that incorporates outside perspectives not only to efficiently run our business, but also to create new and innovative ways to better serve our clients. The members of our board represent a variety of business sectors, including CPA firms, realtors, and estate planning attorneys, and that’s intentional. Working as a team and lifting each other up, these members bring expertise, experience, and most importantly, accountability to the table.
While the board of directors has evolved over the years, there’s no plan to slow down. Our clients have a bright future ahead of them, as the board is looking to further support families in areas such as legacy planning. Through their shared expertise, the board has found that most people’s legacies go unfulfilled because of a lack of communication or cooperation when an estate or legacy is being passed down. Seeing this need, the board of directors is working to bridge this gap to better serve the community and its clients. This is just one of the many ways our board hopes to work together and leverage each other’s strengths to benefit the people we serve.
At Client 1st Financial, we’re committed to helping our clients achieve the lives, prosperity, and legacies they desire, and our board of directors is a key factor in making that possible. To learn more about the work we do and how we’re committed to securing our clients' financial futures, visit client1stfinancial.com.